Belt and buckle



lclaimed and illustrated in Patented Aug. 26, 1.941

(UNITED STATES PATIENT ori-ice y y i BLT lsllCKLE O l 11 Claims.

My invention relates toa combined belt and buckle and has for its principal object, the provision of a buckle that is composed wholly of leather or analogous material, thus eliminating the metal buckles that are ordinarily associated with leather belts and providing a buckle that harmonizes with the belt and combines theremembers of a conventional snap fastener for de-A tachably connecting the ends of the belt when the same is positionedupon the wearer.

l A further object -of my invention is, toY constructthe belt buckle wholly Afrom leather or other lflexible material, thereby eliminating the possibility of discomfort to the wearer as a result of the use of av rigid buckle constructed from metal or the like. 4 A

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel Afeatures of construction and arrangement of-parts -that will be hereinafter more fully described and the accompanying drawing in which: Y f Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the end portions of a belt that is equipped with a flexible buckle constructed in 'accordance' with my invention. I 1 Y Fig. 2 is a horizontal'section-taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking against the inner.' faces of the end portions of the belt' and the buckle carried thereby.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pieceV of leather or like material utilized in the construction of th'elexible buckle and lshowing Ythe same as it appears before being.` foldedand applied Yt o"' the" belt to produce the buckle.

Fig.` 5 is a front elevational View ofthe end portions of a belt and showing a modified form of the buckle in position thereupon.

Fig. '6 is a horizontal section taken `on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an elevational View looking against the inner faces ofthe Vend portions of a belt and showing'VV the modified'l form of the buckle attached thereto.

Fig. 8 is a plan View ofthe utilized in the construction of the modified form of flexible buckle.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing and particularly to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I0 designates a belt composed of leather'or analogous flexible material and formed in the end portion of said belt oppositethe end that carries the buckle is a series of spaced apertures II that are adapted to receive a part of the fastening means carried by the flexible buckle.

The body of the buckle which is formed in a single piece from leather or the like and which is illustrated in blankform in Fig. 4, has the form of an irregular hexagon. This body which is designated generally by the VVnumeral I2v has a wide portion I3 and a narrower portion I4 that gradually tapers in width toward its outer edge.

Formed in the Wide portion I3 of the buckle body is a transversely disposed opening I5 and formed in the end portions of the Wide portionV I3 beyond the ends vof the opening I5r are aper-v tures I6 for' the reception of rivets I1l vor like fastening means that secures lthe buckle tothe belt.

In applying the buckle tothe belt, the ends of the wide portion I3 of the buckle or thoseA portions having the apertures `I Ii are brought together with one portion overlying the other and with one end portion of the belt passing through the buckle which nowhas the form of aloop,

lwith saidbelt lyingimmediately againstthe un. der face fof the underlying end portion of.` theVv buckle Yhaving the apertures I6. 'Rivets or like fastening devices Il are now inserted through, the coinciding apertures I6v and through aper-A tures formed in the belt which coincide with said apertures and after said rivets have been set, the buckle is permanently securedto the belt.

The tapered vnarrow portion I4 yof the buckle provides the loop through Whichtheperforated end of the vbelt ispassed when the belt is appliedv foruse andthat portion of the widemember I3, of the buckleto the side of the opening I5.func tions as a retaining loop for that end of the belt that projects` throughand beyond the loop that. isformed by thenarrow portionIlI of the buckle..

In applying thej buckle to theend of the belt strap, the parts 'are' disposed so thata shortr portion'of theend of `the belt 'andwhich 'is designated bythe numeral` I8 projects slightly be yond the narrowend portion I4 ,of the buckle,

suchextension forming a tab rthat maybe readily manipulated for the convenient-disengage-y piece of material ment of the parts that detachably secure the perforated end of the belt to the buckle, `and seated in this tab portion I8 is the socket member I9 of a conventional snap fastener.

The intermediate portion 20 of a narrow strap of leather or the like is disposed longitudinally and overlies the intermediate portion of the narrow end portion I4 of the buckle and the end portions 2| of this strap are positioned beneath the portion I4 of the buckle and overlap each other.

Seated in these overlapping portions 2| and in the portion I4 of the buckle is the base portion of a rivet 22, the same having a short shank portion 23 that projects beyond the overlying one of the overlapping portions 2| and formed on the end of this shank is a head 24 that is adapted to enter the socket I9. Thus the shank 23 and its head 24 form the stud portion of a conventional snap fastener.

When the ends of .the belt strap are to be connected, the end of the belt having the apertures II is inserted through the loopedfportion I4 of the Ibuckle between the tab I8 that carries the socket I9 and the stud comprising the shank 23 and head 24, `and after the belt has been adjusted to the convenience of the wearer, the perforated end of the belt and the buckle are manipulated so that the stud passes through one of the apertures II with the head 24 of the stud projecting inwardly from the inner face of the perforated end portion of the belt. 'Ilab I8 is now manipulated to bring the socket I9 into position directly over .the head 24 and by slight pressure exerted upon the socket and upon that portion of the buckle bearing the stud, the head 24 snaps into the socket, thus providing a convenient and readily detachable connection between :the ends of the belt.

That portion of the perforated end of the belt that projects through the loopV of the buckle formed by the part I4 passes beneath the keeper or retaining member formed by the portion I3 of the buckle that lies in front of the end of the belt strap to which the buckle is secured.

In the form of belt `and buckle heretoforerdescribed, the intermediate portion of strap 20 overlies and thereby hides from view the disc that is formed on the outer end of rivet 22 and thus, the belt and its buckle when positioned upon the wearer presents a neat, finished Iand attractive, lall-leather appearance.

In themodication illustrated in Figs. to 8 inclusive, the construction of the leather buckle and belt strap are practically identical with thel construction illustrated in Figs, 1 to 4 inclusive, but in the modified form the narrow strap 2'0 that passes laround and which is secured to the portion I4 of the buckle, is eliminated.

In order to secure the base portion of the shank that carries the head 24 to the portion I 4 of the buckle, Ia narrow strap 25 of leather o'r the like has its ends secured to the intermediate portion of member I4 of the buckle on the inner face thereof, and riveted to this member 25 is the base portion of the shank that carries the head 24 and thus, the stud portion of the snap fastener is entirely concealed when the buckle is viewed from in front.

The shank of the stud that carries head 24 passes through the strap 25, through one ofl the apertures II in the belt strap, and the head of said stud is adapted to enter the socket I9 carried by the end of the belt strap that functions as the tab I8.

In the modied construction illustrated in Figs.

5 to 8 inclusive, the buckle and strap are shown with stitched edges and which construction is provided in order to add to the attractive appearance of the belt.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided la belt and buckle that is simple in construction and which may be properly termed an all-leather belt and buckle by reason of the fact that the belt and buckle per se are composed wholly of leather or analogous exible material and the only metal parts used are the rivets and the two parts of the snap fastener, all of which metal parts are concealed from view when the belt is in service.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of .the various parts of my improved belt and buckle, may be made and vsubstituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim :as my invention:

1. An apparel belt comprising a strap provided in one end portion with la row of apertures, a buckle formed from a single piece of flexible material that is folded to form a flat loop which is .transversely disposed upon and encircles said strap, the inner portion of which loop is secured to the end of the belt strap opposite the end provided with the row of apertures land cooperating means carried by the end of the strap on which the buckle is mounted and said buckle, for detachably securing said buckle toy the perforated end portion of the strap, with a part of the securing means extending through one of the perforations in said strap.

2. An apparel belt as set forth in claim 1 and with means carried by the front portion of the buckle for covering the end of the fastening member that is seated in said buckle.

3,'An apparel belt comprising a strap provided in one end portion with a row of spacedapertures, la combined buckle and keeper formed from a single piece of flexible material secured to the other end of the belt strap :and cooperating means carried by said exible buckle and the end of the belt strap to which said buckle is se- Icured for engaging the end of the strap that is provided with the row of apertures. n

4. An apparel belt comprising a belt strap provided adjacent one end with an aperture, a loop of vflexible material secured to the other end oi.' said belt strap and cooperating means carried by said loop and the end of the belt strap to which said loop is connected for detachably connecting the ends of the belt strap, a portion of which cooperating means passes through the aperture in said belt strap.

5. An apparel belt as set forth in claim 4 and with a keeper formed integral with saidr flexible loop for receiving the end of the belt strap that passesV through said loop.

6.Y An apparel belt as set forth in claim 4 and with means secured to said flexible loop for covering a portion of the fastening means that is seated in said loop.

'7. In an apparel belt, a buckle formed from a single piece of flexible material and comprising a loop forming portion and a belt strap keeper portion and means for securing said flexible buckle to a belt strap.

8. An apparel belt as set forth in claim 'I and with cooperating means carried by said flexible buckle and the end of the strap to which said buckle is secured for receiving and securing the other end of said belt strap.

9. In an apparel belt, a belt buckle formed from a single piece of flexible material and comprising a loop portion and a keeper portion, there being an opening formed in the piece of material between said loop and keeper portions and means for securing opposite portions of said section of material to each other.

10. In an apparel belt, a belt buckle formed from a single piece of flexible material in which is formed an opening and, opposite sides of Which piece of material at the ends of said opening are folded inwardly and secured to each other so as to provide a belt strap receiving loop and a belt strap keeper.

11. In an apparel belt, a buckle formed from a single piece of flexible material in which is formed a transversely disposed opening, the sides of the piece of material adjacent the ends of said opening being folded together and secured to each other so as to form a belt strap receiving loop and a beltstrap keeper, a loop of exible material passing lengthwise around the central portion of the belt strap receiving loop and a stud securing the ends of said second mentioned loop to each other and to the belt strap receiving loop.

' LESTER L. SHERWOOD. 

